Macca

If nothing else, it sends a message And by default, it puts a number of others on notice So I like the changes (in principle)

Welcome to Demonland (and good luck!) And I haven't heard that saying for yonks! And it's not like Clarrie is playing badly, he's just playing in a way different way to how he used to play. B only, as compared to A++ As previously stated, his handpassing was previously dynamic. He's had 146 disposals in 5 games so it's not like he has disappeared Like most of his teammates, he needs to use the ball better Do that, and we'll start winning again Let's face, we are just asking the players to share the ball around at speed. No biggie (yet, it is, somehow)

Well I'm looking for A Grade Elite because that's what we are paying for (Petracca & Oliver) Mind you, there's another dozen examples right now so it's not just about those 2 I can't ever remember seeing a top line squad playing so poorly ... at least back in the Bailey, Neeld & Roos's (first 2 years) era, we all knew we didn't have much talent (hindsight tells us that as well)

Yeah sure, but nearly all A Grade Elite's (the Crème de la Creme) can play top footballers well into their 30's these days Both players are gifted athletes and I can see no reason why they can't return to their best for at least the next 3 or 4 years But you might have got me on a technicality, Tony!

I've found myself flip-flopping on these 2 players on a weekly basis However, if both hit their straps and play like they did when they were both top 10 (in the league) why would we not hang on to them? After all, both are contracted to the club for about half a decade each And if both players return to their very best, the offers for both players would need to be sky high Both players are in their peak years right now so expectations should remain high Clarry needs to handball a lot more because that is strength (apart from being a ball-magnet ... remember when we wanted him to kick it more often?) Different players but Greg Williams was devastating with his handpassing and would often just short pass with his kicks As for Petracca, he might need to dominate as a high half forward (however, he played the whole of 2019 as a high half-forward and later on we heard that he'd held meetings with the FD about returning back to the midfield)

Not so much in the last few seasons but Oliver is one of the best team player I've ever seen (that's across all the clubs) His ability to bring his teammates into the game in terms of those receivers having clear space ahead of them was astoundingly good It's a rare gift and it's like he knows what is going to happen before he even has the ball in his hands He needs to get back into that sort of form ... A Grade Elite

There's too many of them thus all the gossip. They need to have something to get our attention It's ok to break a story (if it is true) but when they start repeating themselves, that's a pointer that they are low on stories And it's not one particular journo either, they are feeding the masses who by and large, love gossip Over the years, I've managed to block out the bs & spin. I watch the footy shows in a very selective way ... as soon as they go away from footy matters, my mind goes elsewhere For instance, I've almost completely switched off watching the Ch9 Sunday footy show ... but some of the new FTA footy shows are quite good (and enlightening)

If we are fair dinkum and all-in on this new type of offense, we'll need to learn how to defend against a fast paced offense And the other teams need to be able to defend against our fast paced offense (when and if that happens) There can't be any half-measures by trying to hang on to some of the past ... and that might explain why a number of our players look perplexed & confused) So fast paced and often through the corridor whilst maintaining possession And not be too concerned about turning the ball over ... we turn the ball over anyway and all the other teams turn the ball over as well (to varying degrees) For instance, there were 137 turnovers in the Sydney vs Collingwood game and that type of figure is across all the matches In a lot of the neutral games I've witnessed this season, there's been any number of sling-shot games. Back & forth and end to end IMV, the issue for us is a lack of a buy-in by a number of our players coupled with a coach who previously is/was one of the best defensive coaches going around Mixed messages is what it looks like but that doesn't have to be a permanent thing We only need to get it right a couple of times to see a much bigger buy-in. And then we're off and running Let's not forget that we still have a very talented list (albeit a list that is not performing very well) But a number of our players might not be able to change, so there's sure to be some casualties Regardless, I can see the club being very busy at the trade table in order to have a bigger list that can play the modern brand (unless we go on a super-run, this season ... unlikely)

Yes, and I'm sure most of us have gone to a lot of trouble (with a bit of rant) and then have the index finger hovering over the 'Submit Reply' Will I, will I? And then wipe it/delete!!! I've written some beauty's and then thought better of it, Redleg But every now and then I can't help myself haha

There's a whole host of interesting games coming up this week And I must say that I'm back to really enjoying the footy with all the fast & furious offense at play ... and the open forward lines Far less congestion although there's still a number of stoppages (but less around the ground and more centre bounces?) Takes us back to the '80's & 90's If we could only fast-forward to having a productive offense ourselves!! (will happen, but when? haha) However, defensive tactics will come back into vogue sooner or later!

I like it when a post is reduced to a dot (.) and then someone comes in with 'Good Point'

Yes, but it was heartening to see Petracca committing to the club going forward I want to believe what he said so the optimist in me will take Trac on face value And if it is true in what he said, that shows excellent leadership in terms of others possibly following suit (committing)

Yes, old habits die hard (old dogs, new tricks?) But I reckon at least a few can change (Petracca & maybe Oliver*) and we've got quite a few who regularly can find teammates by foot (Salem, Spargo, Fritsch, Melk, Kozzie - trouble is they don't get enough of the ball apart from Salem & Kozzie) But Gawn, Viney, Rivers, Sparrow and a few others continue to bomb it long and also, often taking too long to dispose of the ball *We'd be better off with Oliver handballing to players on the run . and for his first 5-7 years at the club, his handpassing far outnumbered his kicks ... Oliver at his best started a lot of scoring opportunites from that quick handpass to advantage

A few here have acknowledged how much we are fumbling. And it's right across the board A sure-fire reason that we lack confidence And fumbling often results in a rebound score Of all the stats we digest, fumbling or turnovers can be, and often are, extremely costly. It mirrors soccer in many ways

Yes and Salem & Petracca had a stack of inside 50 entries each in that GF mostly decent sized kicks to a lot of 1 on 1's For instance, Fritsch was targeted deep 8 times (6 goals 2 behinds) but was he not in 1 on 1's on most of those occasions? As most will acknowledge now, from early in 2022 most of the opposition teams flooded our forward line but our class got us through (before it didn't) ... on top of that, intercept marking in the backlike became the norm for a lot of teams And now a lot of opposition teams are adebt at rebound footy out of their backlines. The counter attack as well (often using the corridor) Finally, we lack class in our forward line so our style of footy gradually became ineffective So we have to change but as you've correctly forecast, bing, that change is going to take quite some time especially with our lack of class up forward Unless ... We bite the bullet and play Viney, Petracca & Kozzie in the forward line (primarily) Along with Fritsch & Melk, JVR and with Fullarton or Campbell (Max needs a decent chop out) Mostly Medium, with 2 talls only (the resting ruckman & JVR Midfield will suffer but we can get a few to learn-on-the-job Apart from Clarrie, Sharp, Spargo, Rivers, Sparrow & maybe Langdon, we can use Langford, Lindsay, Windsor, Tholstrop, & Chandler primarily in the midfield Just some speculation on my part, but we need to find a way to win some games So here's how I'd structure the forward line HF Petracca JVR Kozzie F Viney Melksham/Ruckman Fritsch Fullarton or Campbell to play as back up ruckman (20% - 25%) with stints up forward (Decoy?) or on the interchange (and Max can have a couple of stints up forward as well) If JVR can find some form, that team has a dynamic half forward line (if we can deliver properly!!) Sorry about the long post but there is a lot to cover and it's just my 2 cents worth based on the team absolutely needing change*)

You're probably right Mr Crosby but sooner or later most of our best players will have a good game on the same day A redemption or personal pride game? So class might win out as it often happens when an older horse has a day out at the races Anyway, I'm obviously putting a positive spin on things (being a realist can be a bit 'meh' sometimes 😄)

Surely we can turn things around!! We've got too many good players to just bottom out completely. Perhaps an idea is for the FD to show the players the tapes of our more memorable games (winning highlights obviously) We are really low on confidence right now but that confidence can return. In a team sense Petracca coming out and saying he's staying is refreshing. And a real positive We can beat Freo but we've got to come out switched on

Simon Goodwin once kicked 7 goals in a match (against the Eagles) In that same year he bagged 3 goals, 6 times! Mid season draft?

We need to turn the list over From an overall perspective, the current list is incapable of playing fast, effective, attacking football with the accompanying footskills and handpassing skills. And our marking skills are woeful (especially up forward) Our offense just isn't up to it and we need change ... so we need to rebuild the list But that rebuild has already started in the 2023 off season with 2 first round picks (Windsor & Kolt) ... and then continued on last year with another 2 first rounders in Lindsay & Langford

If we assume that Oliver & Viney's handpasses hit their targets, both players only had 2 effective kicks (each) against the Cats Oliver 2 of 14 (effective kicks) Vibey 2 of 8 (effective kicks) Overall Oliver 30 disposals 14 kicks 16 handpasses ... DE 60% Viney 15 disposals 8 kicks 7 handpasses ... DE 60% But if some of the handpasses are missing their targets, that's just as big of an issue

Any chance of Turner & van Rooyen playing in front? At suburban level both would be dragged by now

Ha! It takes a lot for me to be 100% all-in on anything but it's hard to see the list ever being talent-poor with Taylor's ability re drafting And we went from one extreme to another too ... pre Taylor and now with Taylor (in his 14th year) Time flies So it's just a matter of giving the bloke the picks Of all the Pillars that a club needs, does he sit on top?

We haven't seen the team yet Dermie just got stuck into our players on SEN. Did not hold back

Handpassing forward to advantage as part of the new game plan is also an option for Salem The whole team needs to get on the move

His dinky sideways kicks slows down our attack and leads to a flooded forward line By the way he's not alone